“I Never Had Spicy Relations With Noemi. Ι Swear On My Children»

Berlusconi and the 18-year-old from Portici: “I answered the question immediately. And I said no”

ROME – Now the prime minister contests the press versions of the Noemi story. “I never said anything else at all. I replied immediately to the single question of whether I had ever had spicy relations. And I said: ‘Absolutely not’. I made it more solemn by swearing on the lives of my children. I never said anything else at all. Yet look at what some of the papers are saying”.

HOUNDED BY THE PRESS – Speaking to cameras admitted to Palazzo Chigi for the signing of a protocol for Abruzzo, a smiling Silvio Berlusconi commented on the way the press has seized on the Noemi affair. “Has anyone got any questions for me?” was the rhetorical enquiry with which Mr Berlusconi introduced his statement denying any “spicy relations” with Noemi. The premier also pointed out that had any such thing occurred, he would have resigned “immediately”.

SQUADS OF STARLETS – Later at the national assembly of the Confesercenti retailers’ association, the prime minister commented ironically on charges made in the foreign press (particularly the Financial Times): “Mussolini had squads of Blackshirts while I, according to the papers that are tucked under the carpet of the Left, have squads of starlets. At least it’s a bit better”.

FRANCESCHINI – In the meantime, the Democratic Party (PD) leader Dario Franceschini insisted that he had nothing against Mr Berlusconi’s children. “I’d like to say that I’m very sorry if the prime minister’s children feel offended. It’s nothing to do with them”, said Mr Franceschini, pointing out that yesterday “I never said anything about Mr Berlusconi’s children, nor would I ever do so because the idea of involving them in the hurly-burly is a thousand miles from my way of practising politics”. Mr Franceschini stressed that “I was talking about our children and the values that a public figure, in his or her behaviour and words, transmits to the younger generations”.